LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth…” (Deuteronomy 28:25, the Holy Bible).

RP-CHINA WAR: ONLY GOD CAN TELL: The news headlines about nine Chinese gunships crowding out the two Philippine warships at the Scarborough Shoal as of Friday, April 27, 2012, are now indeed very frightening, as they signify the imminence of an upcoming deadly, albeit lopsided, war between nuclear-capable China and the highly-backward Philippines.

Is war between Filipinos and the Chinese really going to explode? Only God can tell, but, even at this point, His Word, the Bible, in its many verses, gives out clear indications that this particular war is going to happen indeed.

First, it is clear that this Scarborough Shoal standoff is happening side by side with earthquakes and famines in all places, together with wars by and between nations and kingdoms, with claims of people that they are Christ or Jesus who has already returned, believers being persecuted and killed and turning away from the faith, false prophets appearing, and wickedness increasing in all places.

COINCIDENCE OF WARS, EARTHQUAKES AND FAMINES: This coincidence of events, if we wish it to call it that way, was warned about by Jesus, our God and Savior, in Matthew 24, when He talked about the end of the world. Matthew 24 said: “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. `Tell us,’ they said, `when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

“Jesus answered: `Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places…

“… `Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people (and there will be an) increase of wickedness…”

INVADERS FROM A NATION FAR-AWAY: In the Old Testament, particularly Deuteronomy 28:49-52, God the Father, through Moses, warned that if people will no longer listen to Him and no longer obey His commands, curses will pour on them. What are some of these curses? Here they are:

“The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand, a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young. They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed.

“They will leave you no grain, new wine or olive oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined. They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the Lord your God is giving you…”